Business Name: Willow Shed
Owner's Name: Judy
Location: 105 N. Main Street, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Phone: 319-385-3440
Web site address: www.willowshed.com
Tell us how you got your start.
"I have always enjoyed doing
Primitive/Country Crafts for myself and friends. When my current job went
away it seemed like a good opportunity to give it a try."
Why did you choose your business name?
"We have a large garage that we
sometimes call the Shed. A lot of my wood crafts are done there I have
always liked Willow Trees so that’s how I came up with the name."
How many hours a day do you devote to crafting?
"robably 4-5 hours...I
multi task working on the Web-Site & doing things in the shop etc."
Which CD(s) do you listen to while crafting?
"At the shop we have Pan Flute
Music- It’s very Relaxing. At home in my daughters room turned craft room
I have DVD’s of Friends, I Love Lucy, The Walton’s Ect…In the Garage/Shed
I have a T.V. I have to have some sort of noise or I can’t function…"
What avenues do you use to market your products ( Internet, shops, craft shows, etc. )?
"Primitive Marketplaces, Newspaper, Craft Shows and Iowa
Country Register."
What gets you motivated?
"Looking thru my Patterns and Primitive/County Books."
Where does your creativity come from?
"m not sure, there are some
artistic relatives in my family. Since I was small I was always wanting to
make things. I once had a plastic mold to make Buddha’s with Plaster of
Paris…I think every family member had one in their house."
Is there a special design or product that you have created that is your absolute favorite?
"Not really, I enjoy everything I do."
Which items are your best sellers?
"Right now, probably our Wood Picture
Signs and Silicone Rice Lights."
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
"Knowing that I am doing
something that I’ve always wanted to do and sitting back and looking at
something and saying I did that!"
Do you have any advice that you would like to share?
"Starting a business
and especially a Web-Site is a lot of work…Advertising is a must…There are
a lot of Marketplaces out there that will tell you their site is the best
at getting traffic to yours. I recommend trying it for a month and watch
your stats to see exactly how many hits you’re getting. I have found with
some marketplaces I had very few hits in a week if any. Be patient it
won’t happen over night…"
